tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25356498816945348452024-03-13T08:18:08.634-07:00Simply FlowersAbby Laneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512511789432688261noreply@blogger.comBlogger97125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535649881694534845.post-82720502231696510352014-03-01T12:12:00.000-08:002014-03-08T08:02:42.853-08:00A Calendar for Growing Flowers in Coastal Southern California<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
MARCH:<br />
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Fertilize<br />
Orchid cactus after buds are set and again after flowers.<br />
Cymbidium or orchid - hi-nitrogen till July - every ten days<br />
Azalea - cottonseed on surface<br />
Hydrangea - acid now and again before bloom. Cottonseed will do. <br />
Roses: feed well now and each time they come into bloom, with a long acting commercial fertilizer, or use the fertilizer with systemic insecticide and do no spraying except for later for mildew with fungicide.<br />
Lawns get 10-6-4 now.<br />
Daylily, liquid hi-bloom or superphosphate. Repeat after each bloom period.<br />
Fuchsias, last feeding of bloodmeal March 15, thereafter balanced fertilizer on the acid side. <br />
Camellias may be planted.<br />
Repot Orchids before June.<br />
Spray Holly with oil spray only if it needs it, for black sooty mold. <br />
Prune Hibiscus, removing one/third growth, about March 21.<br />
Pinch fuchsias<br />
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This is a very good month for cutting and seeds as it is warming up at night. Cuttings of Hydrangea, Fuchsias, Begonia leaf cuttings, Marguerite cuttings, and Zonal Geranium tip cutting now. <br />
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Make a moss lined hanging basket and fill it with petunias from a flat, now, and in a few months you will have a bloom that last about six months. Fertilize regularly. Use about 2 dozen plants.<br />
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Root some tuberous begonias in oak leaf mold now. I f you have no luck in shade, try in full sun after they have been rooted, and transplanted. Mine stayed in full sun till the second hot spell in Sept. and I am one and a half miles from the ocean. <br />
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Get Dahlias in now. Put bonemeal an inch below them. Stake now. <br />
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Plant a couple of cherry tomatoes in a large redwood basket and hang it in the sun. One basket will keep two people in salad tomatoes, as well as being decorative. <br />
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This is the month to enjoy all of the annuals you planted last fall. Keep after weeds, and bait for snails, and don't let either get ahead of you this month.<br />
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Most plants need fertilizer regularly. Folia feed or get a fertilizer that can be thrown around like snail pellets and doesn't need to be worked in. Fruit trees can't be expected to produce fruit without fertilizer. <br />
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Florence Sullivan</div>
Abby Laneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512511789432688261noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535649881694534845.post-90695290498159564082014-02-01T09:18:00.000-08:002014-03-08T08:03:32.828-08:00A Calendar for Growing Flowers in Coastal Southern California<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Calendula in Florence's Garden in February <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSD9nBr_MSNZ3R9_MPRWkwmp496D_GHdmtfR7mVMWMMLipSqnkGnr24KFEkEXPTzjSG1oM2aEKd5pxYF0DxNIxleFQMHAL3NPGz6Y9JxsOP0Vl4P1QyW7sSqc8ZpLP82qRWdfP0KEqmL-Q/s1600-h/Calendula+in+Florence%27s+Garden.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSD9nBr_MSNZ3R9_MPRWkwmp496D_GHdmtfR7mVMWMMLipSqnkGnr24KFEkEXPTzjSG1oM2aEKd5pxYF0DxNIxleFQMHAL3NPGz6Y9JxsOP0Vl4P1QyW7sSqc8ZpLP82qRWdfP0KEqmL-Q/s640/Calendula+in+Florence%27s+Garden.jpg" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302714759021616946" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" width="640" /></a><br />
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FEBRUARY<br />
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Calendula can be in full bloom on Valentine's Day. Do note on your calendar to plant them next September or October. Learn to plant the lovely annuals that will soon be in bloom, in early fall, to get the best and most carefree bloom, we have all year. All of the following bloom best in our early spring: Calendula, Iceland Poppies, Primula, Primroses, Cineria, Stock, Marguerites, Daffodils, Freesia, Statice, Callas - boom in February and March if planted in the fall. Buy them by the dozen then, at very reasonable prices. They will all be available in 4" pots at a higher price now. Another advantage of early spring bloom is the dormancy of many insects. <br />
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Roses pruned last month can be fed a good 1 cup of balanced commercial fertilizer now, 10% nitrogen. As soon as all of the the sprouts are out. <br />
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Buy cottonseed meal to feed Azaleas next mont - good for other shade plants too. <br />
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Prune Poinsettias, Lantana, and semi-hard hibiscus, bougainvillea - about the middle of February. Our last freeze date in this area is February 28. Finish dormant pruning early in February. <br />
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In spite of the advice of others, I don't fertilize my lawn much now or it gets too think in March and is very difficult to cut. <br />
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Cymbidiums get Hi-nitrogen til July. <br />
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Epiphillums get a Hi-bloom fertilizer as soon as blooms appear. <br />
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Fuschsias get a second and last feeding of blood meal now. 1T per basket and a heaping T per foot in the ground. Don't work into soil. <br />
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Pelagoniums gat a pinching now. <br />
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Dahlias and tuberrose go in now. <br />
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Try another dozen delphiniums in enriched soil. Bait for snails. Or you can use plastic cherry tomato baskets inverted to protect delphiniums from birds and snails. <br />
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Make a mum tree. Put 3 plants close together and pinch out side shoots till correct height is reached, then train it like a tree rose. Pompoms are best. <br />
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Calendula, carnations, cinerarias, and dahlias always suffer insect damage. I protect from the time of planting with the granular form of systemic and therefore do no spraying, simply using the granules every six weeks.<br />
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Meyer lemons do very well here. They are dwarf and look great in a large container. <br />
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Try some Azaleas even if they are difficult here. They don't really like our alkaline water and soil. Work an azalea mix into your soil. I don't like pure peat, once dry it is next to impossible to get it wet again. <br />
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~Florence Sullivan<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOsHLIdUZtMjDXIjINeEQdysQtpPTs236Sa2nXBdMWOIKhE0hf8V34YevoNOD9P73hPjvPZF9F9fAMUfpyGBXiYeiInf8_eKC8ooLm-rAgDa8P6k5SbJfbMbxw_r_QTc-os1g_-k1Coa1K/s1600-h/Florence's+flowers.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOsHLIdUZtMjDXIjINeEQdysQtpPTs236Sa2nXBdMWOIKhE0hf8V34YevoNOD9P73hPjvPZF9F9fAMUfpyGBXiYeiInf8_eKC8ooLm-rAgDa8P6k5SbJfbMbxw_r_QTc-os1g_-k1Coa1K/s640/Florence's+flowers.jpg" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302714100252175554" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" width="640" /></a></div>
Abby Laneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512511789432688261noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535649881694534845.post-63487999599478623642014-01-22T01:00:00.000-08:002014-01-22T11:49:03.235-08:00Everything's coming up roses - for me. ~ Ethel Merman<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Welcome to my blog, and garden. Also, welcome to my friends from Sisterhood Stories. If you have time today, please follow the blog links through "Sisterhood Stories." These are my talented and creative friends, and we link our blogs together. After you have visited here, please visit Sue at <a href="http://themercerie.net/blog/">http://themercerie.net/blog/</a><br />
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In the flower bed in front of my house, I was originally inspired to create a "mini version" of Claude Monet's, Giverny Rose Garden. I planted a variety of roses in different sizes, colors, and species, with hopes that my flowers would give an impressionist impression. <br />
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This is Claude Monet's Garden at Giverny (photo credit shogunangel at flickr)<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="428" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" nbsp="" oallowfullscreen="" src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/shogunangel/5799716764/player/f1b4c1b0b4" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe><br />
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Here's another view of Monet's Rose Garden, I would so love to visit. (photo credit Valeria)<br />
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This is a video link to Monet's Garden; notice he lived to 86, one of the benefits gardening:<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/BMey7gOLEgY" width="560"></iframe><br />
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This year, I'm in the mood to streamline my flowers, and create a more "tidy" garden styling. My goal this January is to take out the multi-colored roses I've have had for years, and replace them with one type of rose, on the picket fence. I'm leaning toward getting roses from the David Austin catalogue. <br />
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David Austin Roses are show stoppers. They're great subjects for photographers, and gardeners. I just wonder if they will thrive in my California garden? If you want to swoon, I've pinned some stunning David Austin Roses. They are divine in the garden, and equally amazing when cut.<br />
<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/abbylanesphoto/david-austin-roses/">http://www.pinterest.com/abbylanesphoto/david-austin-roses/</a><br />
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At other times, when I'm feeling more sensible, I want to choose tried and true, disease resistant roses. Being a creative type, things might change after I visit the nursery. At the moment, I'm leaning towards pink roses on the picket fence.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="426" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" nbsp="" oallowfullscreen="" src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/4837190123/player/d732a56cfc" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe><br />
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In Southern California, January is the time to prune your roses. Then, it's time to look around your garden, and see if you want to make some changes, especially if those changes involve roses. January is a great month to purchase bare root roses. They tend to be easier to plant, and thrive well, after they take hold in the garden. I'm going to look for bare root roses in pink.<br />
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Possibly in this bright pink shade:<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="426" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" nbsp="" oallowfullscreen="" src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/4107832647/player/3fe629e08f" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe><br />
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Or in this pale pink shade:<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="426" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" nbsp="" oallowfullscreen="" src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/4082540658/player/43e93b5359" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe><br />
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Or in a darker pink shade:<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="428" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" nbsp="" oallowfullscreen="" src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/2714618887/player/b730cd1d46" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe><br />
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A garden designer told me his favorite roses on a picket fence in Southern California are blushing pink iceberg roses. These floribunda roses are bushy, healthy and bloom repeatedly, nearly all year round.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="640" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" nbsp="" oallowfullscreen="" src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/4214704884/player/57a67cc166" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe><br />
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They're not ideal for cutting...<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="426" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" nbsp="" oallowfullscreen="" src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/3064093220/player/1727e9bdd3" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe><br />
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…but they are certainly stylish on a picket fence. (photo credit whowhatwhen??? at flickr)<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="425" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" nbsp="" oallowfullscreen="" src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/50735258@N07/6983964108/player/c3c6595cd7" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe><br />
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Meanwhile, my current roses are trimmed completely back, and look like bare root roses. It's time to make a choice, get the shovel, and plant away.<br />
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What are your favorite roses? Remember to visit Sue at <a href="http://themercerie.net/blog/">http://themercerie.net/blog/</a> and follow the links from blog to blog for a journey of Sisterhood Stories.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="426" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" nbsp="" oallowfullscreen="" src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/3170138460/player/16c639bc00" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe></div>
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Abby Laneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512511789432688261noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535649881694534845.post-86045350633329131142014-01-07T21:39:00.001-08:002014-01-07T21:39:17.860-08:00Garden as though you will live forever. ~ William Kent <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Today I want to welcome an international group of my talented photographer friends who I've had the pleasure of knowing for several years. We link our blogs together, creating Sisterhood Stories. Please follow the links and enjoy a magical journey around blog land and the world. You will be pleased you did. After you've visited her, please pop over to see my friend Sue <a href="http://themercerie.net/blog/" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://themercerie.net/blog/</a>.</div>
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January in Southern California, is a month when you can expect to see beautiful camellia's blooming in the gardens. I'm very fortunate to live in a 60 year old home, where someone had the forethought to plant these gorgeous flowering shrubs known as camellia japonica's. In gardening history, they were refered to as the "Japan Rose."</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6R0KB03D7tkHmYiE7fbDoWn6URqAsdece81mANj22gQF-1lBFevJdCrMGAAakWxTbTD6NqcPyLTdKtX0ewiTBuRo8kJGRx2whb6XFMIAe_voMPXytyq_CXtHngv9tMIaJeuo37KVVIN6/s1600/9336717503_df38e4dd28_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6R0KB03D7tkHmYiE7fbDoWn6URqAsdece81mANj22gQF-1lBFevJdCrMGAAakWxTbTD6NqcPyLTdKtX0ewiTBuRo8kJGRx2whb6XFMIAe_voMPXytyq_CXtHngv9tMIaJeuo37KVVIN6/s1600/9336717503_df38e4dd28_b.jpg" height="640" width="424" /></a></div>
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Camellia shrubs grow very slowly, and thanks to the age of the camellia shrubs in my garden, they are very large and abundant. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4U4hnnITnlFWBcwiEzkjceS4r6iULGqM2LJM00PKC581aQTboH0_j-WWTzgyUOjWsk_PlX8kyCmWZfkoS1tCGQUrS4PUrMnj9isces2PQpAKaNiHdxgemmSUVOjhreY41hh-9WXFCaIT/s1600/9413250494_9a966c9e0a_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4U4hnnITnlFWBcwiEzkjceS4r6iULGqM2LJM00PKC581aQTboH0_j-WWTzgyUOjWsk_PlX8kyCmWZfkoS1tCGQUrS4PUrMnj9isces2PQpAKaNiHdxgemmSUVOjhreY41hh-9WXFCaIT/s1600/9413250494_9a966c9e0a_b.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
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Southern California is home to Descanso Garden's, which has the largest collection of camellia plants outside of Japan, and likely the oldest camellia plants in the United States. If you want to experience gorgeous blooms, and a large variety, please do visit this month. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI23oOmroaSpZ0bv8GlyE_faIznIfA4VEOk-IqqYSG0heBvjD935VY7hzwSqI3BOX4bOX4OxlRoVRyYyh50fLIao3oIIQqdg88e5Bdfaw7nFxNd9H8XErjfdG08i3iyvTKejfYK0N7Rwtp/s1600/3053105427_25e4400e7e_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI23oOmroaSpZ0bv8GlyE_faIznIfA4VEOk-IqqYSG0heBvjD935VY7hzwSqI3BOX4bOX4OxlRoVRyYyh50fLIao3oIIQqdg88e5Bdfaw7nFxNd9H8XErjfdG08i3iyvTKejfYK0N7Rwtp/s1600/3053105427_25e4400e7e_b.jpg" height="640" width="424" /></a></div>
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Descanso's Annual Camellia Festival is coming up soon. </div>
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February 8 and 9, 2014 at Descanso Gardens</div>
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http://www.descansogardens.org/calendar/camellia-festival/</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVKRoGBRUiaokTl8Eq3QIcGoV4JmVtdUVF4q3T8hs0emIvNvcNLMlR_0EmaQ4fOerYca6F-PsEUxd9uyTxobk_w98diZCzyW0FvwTQBg8_9fkxKiyfD_aHjI8abwotbLwgqrLIHzEyXWr/s1600/4322638677_31fd9227eb_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVKRoGBRUiaokTl8Eq3QIcGoV4JmVtdUVF4q3T8hs0emIvNvcNLMlR_0EmaQ4fOerYca6F-PsEUxd9uyTxobk_w98diZCzyW0FvwTQBg8_9fkxKiyfD_aHjI8abwotbLwgqrLIHzEyXWr/s1600/4322638677_31fd9227eb_b.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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By the way, did you make New Year's Resolutions this year? I plan on joining a new gardening club. The health benefits of gardening are undeniable. My friends from my original gardening club, called "The Gardeneer's" lived extremely long and productive lives. Many of them have gone on to garden in the great beyond, but most of them were in their late 90's and even 100+. </div>
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Thank you for stopping by, and please remember to visit the links for Sisterhood Stories, first stopping by to Sue <a href="http://themercerie.net/blog/" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://themercerie.net/blog/</a>.</div>
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Happy New Year!</div>
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Abby Laneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512511789432688261noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535649881694534845.post-32231792784448855802014-01-05T15:48:00.001-08:002014-01-05T15:48:43.500-08:00Write on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. ~ Ralph
Waldo Emerson<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/11716850866/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7395/11716850866_dd06f5f3ea.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/11716850866/">Write on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/">Abby Lanes</a>.</span></div><p>Happy 2014!<br /><br />May each day of this year, be your best.</p>Abby Laneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512511789432688261noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535649881694534845.post-49822201580458313322014-01-05T08:24:00.000-08:002014-01-05T08:24:43.064-08:00A Calendar for Growing Flowers in Coastal Southern California<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
January<br />
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This is the month we sharpen our pruning tools, and get out a good pruning book and study it. Roses and fuchsias especially need pruning. The South Coast Botanic Garden usually schedules pruning demonstrations on Sundays in January and February.<br />
<br />
January is the month you find certain bare root plants in your nursery that will not be there any other month. Bare root plants are easier and cheaper to ship and sell. Wise gardeners shop early to get a good selection and get them planted before they dry out. Among the bare root plants available (often this month only) are: roses, grapes, flower fruit trees, Bechtel crabapple, asparagus, artichokes, rhubarb, and deciduous trees. Apricots do very well here and tree ripened fruit is extra good. Strawberries, and we hear that other berries, grow well here. Remember Knott's!! If you are planning a garden with edibles, be sure to keep it separate from flowers if you use systemic sprays. Be careful that any sprays you use are safe for edibles.<br />
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Speaking of edibles, sometime in the Spring plant some beet seeds and don't harvest the beets - pick and use the leaves like spinach. Used this way, you will have a continuing harvest for several years. For two people, 20 ft. will give you a meal a week, very easily.<br />
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Roses are still blooming, but before the month is out, you must plan to prune them, clean away all of the old mulch, and take all the old leaves off. Start them afresh by giving them a good spray with a lime sulphur solution. Buy new bushes now, too. There will be rose pruning demonstrations at many places this month.<br />
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Roses give many repeat blooms here. They can be fed and the insects repelled by applying systemic granules every six weeks. Then the only other care would be to spray weekly in the month of May for mildew. Roses are heavy feeders and need deep watering. They repay with a mass of roses every six weeks. Chose mildew free varieties. Consult neighbors and nurserymen for the most mildew resistant plants in your area.<br />
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Fuchsias should be fed blood meal when pruned, but just on top of the ground. 1T per basket, and 1 heaping T per foot of height if in the ground.<br />
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Ivy should be cut back now.<br />
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Try some delphiniums late this month. Protect from birds and snails.<br />
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Feed the slugs and snails something lethal.<br />
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Dahlias can be dug and stored, especially if drainage is poor. Some gardeners, including myself, leave them in for years, with excellent results. <br />
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Prune Spring flower shrubs after they bloom.<br />
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You will start your tuberous begonias next month so you might order now if you send away for them. Local nurseries will be getting them soon. Get some oak leaf mold to have on hand to start them. Shade is recommended, but I found I was able to grow them in full sun right up until the second hot spell in September. Snails love them so much that growing in baskets or pots is much better than in the ground. Try them, you'll love them.<br />
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Cut mums to the ground. Plant Glads till March.<br />
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Fertilize spring annuals, potted plants, clivia, ferns and primroses.<br />
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Continue to feed Cymbidiums hi-nitrogen til July.<br />
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Hydrangeas should be pruned if you want it low and bushy.<br />
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Late February is the best time to prune fuchsias. It is a good idea to have them free of mites by then. They will start the new year squeaky clean.<br />
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The Fuchsia Fan recommends an improved method:<br />
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Day 1. Vlock oil, 1 tsp. per gallon<br />
Day 2. Cooks garden insect spray with Thiodan, 2 tbsp. per gallon.<br />
Day 3. Rest<br />
<br />
Repeat three times. Thereafter use one or the other one time each month and that should control them. <br />
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©Florence Sullivan 1986 <br />
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Abby Laneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512511789432688261noreply@blogger.com0Southern California34.9592083 -116.4193890000000228.2410358 -126.74653750000002 41.6773808 -106.09224050000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535649881694534845.post-50037702216060930862013-04-03T09:45:00.000-07:002013-04-03T09:45:15.677-07:00Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful, they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul. - Luther Burbank<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;">Welcome to a new angle on Simply Flowers. Today, I want you to meet my blogging sisters, and then enjoy flower-filled fashion from "Free People." </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">First, after your visit here, feel free to follow links through </span><span style="text-align: left;">personalized stories from an international group of photograhers and bloggers we call</span><span style="text-align: left;"> "Sisterhood Stories." We link our blogs together and I'd like to introduce you to your first stop in the circle, featuring the stunning photography of Aziza, from Little Twinkles: <a href="http://imagesofmydailylife.wordpress.com/">http://imagesofmydailylife.wordpress.com</a></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Next, preview "Free People's" Spring fashion, with a rainbow of colors and fields of flowers. If you'd like to shop, or enjoy the sunshine and style, head over to the "Free People" catalog at <a href="http://www.freepeople.com/mar-13-catalog/#1">http://www.freepeople.com/mar-13-catalog/#1</a></span></div>
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Finally, if you live in Southern California and want your gardens and flowers to flourish, remember to follow this advice from Florence Sullivan, with April Gardening Tips. <a href="http://simply-flowers.blogspot.com/2009/04/calendar-for-growing-flowers-in-costal.html">http://simply-flowers.blogspot.com/2009/04/calendar-for-growing-flowers-in-costal.html</a></div>
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Until next time, enjoy your garden and the beauty of Spring!</div>
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<u>CATALOG CREDITS:</u> <u><o:p></o:p></u></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Model:</span></b><span style="font-size: 9pt;"> Alana Zimmer, Dorothea Barth Jorgensen, Martha Hunt, and Fei Fei Sun</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Photographer: </span></b><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Anna Palma <b> </b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Hair:</span></b><span style="font-size: 9pt;"> Amy Farid </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Makeup: </span></b><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Deanna Hagan</span> <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Abby Laneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16540398992228536618noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535649881694534845.post-70441733307136242372013-04-01T09:54:00.000-07:002013-04-03T13:26:37.941-07:00A Calendar for Growing Flowers in Coastal Southern California<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
April<br />
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Is your patio spilling over with color? It could be!<br />
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Mine is brilliant with pots of blue and yellow violas, pansies, blue ageratum, geraniums,a nd white alyssum. But they were all planted in November and December. So reach for your calendar and make a note to plant these things next year in those months. Even a huge redwood tub of yellow marguerites was planted last fall. The petunias blooming now are left over from last year. All in the sun. <br />
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Last month, and this month, is the time to be planting containers and tubs, and moss-lined hanging baskets of plants that will bloom clearn thru till next November. To plant now use for Pink: petunias, White: allysum, Blue: ageratum, potato vine, light blue or dark blue lobelia, Yellow: or Orange: dwarf french marigold, Red: fiberous begonia. These are all for sun. Vinca also. <br />
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For shade, now, use fuchsia, white allysum and impatients, but this would be light shade.<br />
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Small cyclamen can be purchased now for next winter's bloom. <br />
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PLANT - Dahlias from now till mid-June. A handful of bonemeal worked into soil below tubers at planting time is good. Take mum blooming bulbs, braid it and bend it over till completely brown. Try cherry tomatoes in a hanging basket, one basket will supply two people all summer. Put cascade mums into 12" pots now. <br />
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SPRAY - Watch roses for signs of mildew and spray it as it appears. Usually next month is bad for this. Spray ground too. Systemic granuales with fertilizer will protect from insects and fungicide to get the mildew. Systemic granules completely protect cinerarias, calendula, carnations, and any other plan you knoww that will get insect damage. Most of the garden will not need spray. <br />
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PRUNE - Camellias and azaleas after bloom, but only if needed for shaping and only after reading a book on pruning them. Important too is to remove the dead flowers from plants. Know what you are doing here. Sunseet prints a good book on pruning. Prune cape honeysuckle. Many other spring blooming shrubs need pruning after bloom. <br />
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PINCH - fuchsias till May Day.<br />
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FERTILIZE - lawns - shrubs and trees and bulbs when blooming. <br />
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Epiphyllums get top dreing of well-rotted manure. Hydrangeas get camellia food or cottonseed now. KEEP AFTER THOSE SNAILS.<br />
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WEED - Don't let it get ahead of you!<br />
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Hint: Even if you have poor reusults with petunias in the garden, do try them in container, epecially in moss lined baket where snails can't get them. Only trouble wa leaf minor and you can control that for six weeks at a time with systemic granules. These granule can be bought with or without added fertilizer. <br />
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REMEMBER: A garden is a thing of joy and a job forever! - unknown<br />
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Florence Sullivan</div>
Abby Laneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512511789432688261noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535649881694534845.post-20435984722159557422013-02-01T09:00:00.000-08:002013-04-03T13:53:18.721-07:00A Calendar for Growing Flowers in Coastal Southern California<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Florence Sullivan</div>
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September 1, 1913 to February 9, 2009</div>
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My friend, and gardening mentor Florence Sullivan, passed away recently at the age of 95 1/2. I had previously asked her daughter's permission to share her gardening tips. She wrote a booklet, with the above title, so any tips I share on this blog, with this title are from "Florence Sullivan," with the kind permission of her daughter Holly.<br />
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Since it's already February, I'll do this slightly out of order and start with February. <br />
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AUTHOR'S NOTE<br />
This booklet contains flower gardening information for a specific area. This area includes Santa Barbara to the Mexican border and from the Pacific, inland to the hotter areas. <br />
To make the best use of this information, may I suggest that you get a thin felt pen with green ink, go to your calendar and turn to the current month. Jot down chores which apply to your garden. Then continue thru the year. Green ink will suggest gardens. Thereafter when you fertilize or spray, make a note on your calendar, in green, to remind you when to do it next. Then you will be organized, and your garden will flourish. <br />
Happy Gardening<br />
<br />
Florence Sulivan<br />
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Mrs. Sullivan has taught Container Gardening at the South Coast Botanic Garden and lectured to Garden Clubs. She has gardened in this are for 25 years. (Copyright 1986 - Florence Sullivan)<br />
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Abby Laneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512511789432688261noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535649881694534845.post-81571978192325595312012-08-01T02:00:00.000-07:002013-04-03T13:39:24.215-07:00A Calendar for Growing Flowers in Coastal Southern California<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
AUGUST<br />
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Remember, all beautiful color you see here in winter and very early spring should be planned about this time. The roots get a fine start and much of the best blooms come from this early planting. If your garden is full of mums now, and you lack room, get pony packs and transplant into 4" plastic size pots, and have inexpensive plants ready to pop into place later. If you plant directly into the garden, do it at about 4 p.m. to give the plants a whole cool night to help them thru the next days heat. Shade them for part of the next day. <br />
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THING WINTER COLOR NOW, BUY BY LABOR DAY!<br />
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Our early color comes from planting these now. Stock, iceland poppies, calendula, snapdragons, and try some perennials, now, too. Try margurites, blue daisy, foxglove. <br />
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Some seeds could be sown in flats now, if that's your thing. Spring flowers and perennials. A few that do well sown in the garden and reseed year after year are: white allysum, forget-me-nots, bachelor buttons, lobelia, nasturtiums, impatients, California poppy, and orange African daisy, but most others need more care and the see is too expensive to waste trying to sow directly into the garden. <br />
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Stop fertilizing hibiscus and other subtropicals so they will harden off for winter. <br />
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California poppy if watered in a garden situation makes a fine garden flower. It blooms much longer than in the wild. Lack of rainfall keeps it from germinating on our local hillsides. Remember seeds must never dry out while germinating. California poppy comes in mixed colors. African daisies, the little orange and cream colored kind can be sown soon. They bloom for many winter months. <br />
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Now, you have thouh about your winter garden, let's see what needs doing this month. <br />
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POINSETTIAS may still be pinched back early this month. Just remove the last six inches of each stock to have double the number of blooms. <br />
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FUCHSIAS, keep the dead blooms picked and plan to cut some straggly branches back about six inches. <br />
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HIBISCUS should be fertilized for the last time this year, but lightly. Later fertilizing will result in growth tener to frost. This is true of many sub-tropicals. <br />
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CAMELLIAS must have mulch renewed or replaced to keep the roots cool and don't let them go in hot weather. Fertilize lightly and thing buds. Be careful not to remove the growing tip which can look like a bud. <br />
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IRIS should be ordered now. <br />
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MUMS should be cut to about 8" abou the first week in August, then do not cut again. Some gardeners do it a few weeks later but do it! Otherwise, they will get six feet tall and collapse. <br />
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Prepare areas for sweet peas, dig in manure, and R.S.A. Let set a few weeks, then plan early blooming kind. Remember they are heavy feeders. When six inches high, pinch tips out. <br />
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CALENDULA will get thrip so use systemic granules when planting and every six weeks. Thrip is what causes the buds on otherwise healthy plants to dry up. Thrip have eaten them from inside.</div>
Abby Laneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512511789432688261noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535649881694534845.post-53118550335855690052012-07-01T15:57:00.000-07:002013-04-03T13:32:34.739-07:00A Calendar for Growing Flowers in Coastal Southern California<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
JULY<br />
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FERTILIZE, everything is growing fast and continues to need feeding. Water deeply and usually only once a week. Light sprinkling begets shallow roots. Mulch. Keeps weeds down and moisture in. <br />
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July is the best time to separate iris. Don't use any nitrogens when replanting, only super phosphate. Remember, the new growth does the blooming, the second year is the best bloom and the third is good, then consider dividing. <br />
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Roses, daylilies and many other things have bloomed and need feeding with low nitrogen fertilizer for more bloom. Epipilliums can be repotted now, they like to be grown in orchid bark. <br />
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Make cuttings of Martha Washington type geraniums after they finish bloom, or cut back a bit to give you good cutting wood next month. <br />
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If the weather is very hot, do not drown fuchsias, but rather sprinkle the area around them several times a day to increase the humidity they love. <br />
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Continue to keep your margurites thinned and they will continue to bloom. Make some zonal geranium cuttings this month, and when well rooted, consider throwing out the parent stock. <br />
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Buy foxglove seed, and plant for the next year. <br />
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Look over the garden, and the neighbors garden, and decide what you want for next year at this time. Write it on your calendar to buy and plant, at the right time. See what perrenials you could put in this fall, and consider flowering vines as easy color. Hold yourself in check next year when you plant in containers and remember what a chore watering is, and plan to put more things in the ground, for easier gardening. Think ahead about winter blooming containers, they don't require as much watering, try to plan to get these started early.<br />
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Carnations get thrip, so protect as buds form, with systemic granules. Petunias should be lightly pinched so they will not get leggy all at once. <br />
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Spend an hour sitting and thinking in your garden with a pencil and notebook in hand. Plan for a year from now. Then go write notes on your calendar for things to plant next year. Use more perennials, they will be there year after year. <br />
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Daylilies finish their first bloom now, and can use a good cleaning out of the old dead leaveas underneath. Cut down the old bloom stalks. If they are sending up too many side shoots eliminate some. Feed them a fertilizer with a high middle number.<br />
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Pinch back poinsettias. <br />
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Look carefully at your glads. Plan on moving them to places where their dying leaves won't show, for next year. Don't cut leaves back till fully brown. Then they can be dug, dried and saved for the next year. While in bloom mark the colors.<br />
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If you have vacant spots now, you can still slip in some marigolds or dwarf dahlias. <br />
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Lily of the Nile can hardly be beat. They bloom from June 1 to July 20, need no feed, look neat as a border plant all year, what more can you ask? Get one, divide it over and over again the next few years, and then leave it alone and you will have a huge display. Be sure to get some of the Peter Pan, half as high. Divide about a month after they bloom. <br />
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Fuchsias flaunt their beauty all summer. Red ones will take full sun along the coast while lighter colors need more shade. In July red fuchsias, white shastas, blue lily of the nile, yellow marguirte, golden gloriosa daisy, and lemon and yellow marigolds make the garden the most colorful of the year. Purple statice blooms like mad in July and Pink geraniums, roses and petunias complete the color palette. Tuck in a few lobelia, both dark and light and you'll never want to leave home. <br />
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Water deeply and keep fertilizing and weeding.</div>
Abby Laneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512511789432688261noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535649881694534845.post-31488908375823930502012-06-01T00:02:00.000-07:002013-04-03T13:41:04.659-07:00A Calendar for Growing Flowers in Coastal Southern California<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
June<br />
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The first step in having color in your garden is planning well ahead. This month plan for the mums that will make your garden a joy next October. Divide clumps now and make some cuttings too. If you are limited on space, put a few divisions or cuttings in 4" plastic pots and bring them along for the next six weeks then tuck them in. Keep tops pinched back till first week in August. The rewards are so great that I like to put a very small handful of all purpose organic fertilizer in each hole and also use a small spade and work up the soil for each plant and add some R.S.A. Plants can be obtained at nurseries or aske friends for divisions. <br />
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If you have fading foxgloves, you could pull them out and put the mums in. Speaking of foxglove, they are so worthwhile for tall colorful spikes, and have bloomed for almost two months. First, the tall cneter spike, which when faded is cut back, then, six or more small spikes all grouped. Spikes are hard to come by in the garden where most of the forms are rounded, so next fall do buy some foxgloves. Put it on your calendar for October. They take full sun on the coast. Colors white, purple, cream and pinkish. After the early spring bloom of the last few months, actually the best time in our gardens, there are literally garbage cans full of throwaway material. Consider putting this on the compost heap. Even if you have no time to turn a heap, it will eventually become compost. <br />
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Delphenium gets cut back when new growth appears at the base. <br />
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Early sweet peas are almost gone, you might have a few seeds before throwing them out. When you plant them next September pinch them once when six inches high. You will be happy about what a nice full bush that makes. <br />
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Early in June you could buy pony packs of many late summer annuals, put them in a good mix, half garden soil, half potting mix, in 4" plastic pots, then when all these bare spaces occur from pulling calendula, sweet peas, etc. your late summer things will be ready to pop up and flower. This is a great money saver. The nursery does it for you at about ten times the costs. If you plan ahead this way, you save money and make the garden show more color. <br />
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Iris should be divided in July if they have become too crowded, but if you have too many you might dig some now and throw away or give away and tuck summer annuals into the empty spaces. <br />
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Dwarf Dahlias can be bought in 4" pots in bloom so you can see the color. Tucked in now, they will give months of bloom in summer, and then die down to rise in full glory for years to come. Use systemic granules when you plant them, and every six weeks thereafter, while in bloom. Let the leaves die completely before cutting back. <br />
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Zinnias provide some summer color, they want good air circulation or get mildew.<br />
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Roses can be cut with long stems now. <br />
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Margurites should be kept groomed and thinned and they will bloom all year. Make some cuttings now. Many of the best summer bloomers are perrenials. Statice, lily of Nile, daylilies, roses and others. Plan on getting some in next fall, and your garden will have summer color. Gloriosa daisy could still be planted from 4" pots and give a lot of summer color for years to come. Protect from snails. Select roses now, when you see the colors, but buy in January, bareroot. Botanic gardens usually have them labeled.<br />
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In mid-June your fuchsias should be in full bloom. They are fairly expensive at this time but do go to a nursery and get the names of some you like and plan a basket for next year. Red ones are blooming now, in full sun, along the coast. Other colors give six months of color, tucked in semi shade in the garden, and trained as trees or bushes. Much easier than watering baskets all the time. Train them high, remember they look best from below, hence the popularity of fuchsia baskets. Learn to make fuchsia trees from basket types. <br />
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I suggest you get your social calendar and make an appointment with yourself on the above suggested dates and go out and do these things. <br />
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Keep fertilizing!<br />
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~Florence Sullivan</div>
Abby Laneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512511789432688261noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535649881694534845.post-90438098179645875382012-05-01T00:57:00.000-07:002013-04-03T13:38:49.716-07:00A Calendar for Growing Flowers in Coastal Southern California<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
May <br />
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May is Lei Day in Hawaii or MAY IS THE MONTH OF MILDEW here on the coast, on your roses.<br />
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Be sure to spray for mildew on your roses all this month, every week. Spray the soil also. Cut short stems on the roses for the first blooming to let the plant get strong, then after that, long stems to semi-prune as you pick. <br />
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You can safely fertilize almost everything now, to keep it growing fast. When the rains are over, water infrequently but deeply, about once a week in sandy soil, less often in adobe. <br />
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Always add organic amendments to soil when you plant, as these continuously decompose and must be replaced. <br />
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Multiply Mums Madly, by making cuttings of the tips and divisions of the plants. In the next six weeks see that all your mums are divided. You will do better to dig up a clump and keep one division than to leave the whole clump. After they are established continue to pinch till mid August. Keep them 6 to 8 inches high, till then. If they get lumps on them use systemic granules.<br />
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If fuchsias are nicely rounded plants, stop pinching now and let them set buds. Fertilize them now iwth fertilizer with a high middle number. <br />
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If calendulas get mildew and leggy throw them out. They have had their day and plant them again in September. Save the stock, it may last two years, simply cut the old flowers off. Keep pruning chunks out of the marguerites every few weeks and they will continue to put out new green and blooms all year. <br />
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Plant asters and zinnias late in the month. <br />
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First Lady marigold will add a lot of summer color. Buy small dahlias in the 4" size in bloom so you can pick the color. They will bloom all summer if you protect them ever six weeks with systemic granules, then they will go dormant in late fall. When foliage i all dried up, dig and store bulbs to plant next year or they may be left in the ground a few years before separating. They always get leaf minor o you must use systemic granules every six weeks or spray them every 10 days. Protect them from snails too. <br />
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If you have pets do use the "spray on" snail protection. Completely water the garden first in the morning, let all the water dry off the leaves and then thoroughly spray the entire garden. Repeat in about 10 days and you will find very few snails live through this treatment. "That's it," and a product by Germaines are a few of the good sprays. If you can persuade the neighbors on each side to do this at the same time you are all going to be happy for a while. If you use snail spray or any spray be sure to get under the leaves.<br />
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In summer: impatients for shade, vinca for sun. Impatients in shade will bloom until November. A good investment, make cuttings and have them next year. Buy in bloom and collect your favorite colors. Planted amid ferns and using campanulas as a ground cover you can have a colorful spot in the deep summer shade. Impatients can stand a bit of sun along the coast, and must have sun in winter. <br />
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Don't cut foliage off bulbs but braid it and tuck it away neatly. Try to take in a Garden Tour in May. You will learn a lot from it. Take carnation cuttings now.<br />
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Florence Sullivan</div>
Abby Laneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512511789432688261noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535649881694534845.post-4047619326683239762012-03-30T11:33:00.002-07:002013-04-03T13:51:59.060-07:00All the flowers of tomorrow, are the seeds of today. Indian Proverb<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Investing your time in helping others is like planting seeds in the flower garden of life. One of my personal "time investments" is spent being a Girl Scout leader. Each year, leaders get together and plan activities for the upcoming year. This year, we added a flowed design class to our plans.<br />
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For this lesson, we took our fourth grade Junior Girl Scout troop for the floral decor lesson, at the Yellow Vase Cafe in Palos Verdes.<br />
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The children enjoyed working with ribbon, roses and hydrangeas to create a sweet Spring flower arrangement that anyone would love. The outcome was wonderful.<br />
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Fortunately, if you teach a child something truly useful, they can use it over and over in life. A week after we had this class, our Troop Leader was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. We are praying for her speedy recovery, and our troop was able to gather quickly when we heard the news, and create some beautiful flowers designed with love for her. We gave them flower vases and a bucket of Spring flowers and this si what they created. </div>
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Working with children, and flowers, is a useful way to plant loving seeds in the flower garden of childhood.</div>
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Abby Laneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512511789432688261noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535649881694534845.post-72367632503120405992011-07-19T12:19:00.001-07:002011-07-19T12:19:36.058-07:00"I know the heart of life is good" ~ John Mayer<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/5954861601/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6131/5954861601_501c81af6a.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/5954861601/">"I know the heart of life is good" ~ John Mayer</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/">Abby Lanes</a>.</span></div><p>I've been spending time in nauture lately and feel inspired. This was taken in a garden in Malibu. This song fits this photo perfectly for me.<br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS8NvoMudy8&feature=related</p>Abby Laneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512511789432688261noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535649881694534845.post-23054755407723359362010-12-10T13:03:00.000-08:002010-12-20T13:38:10.187-08:00"Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been." Mark Twain<div style="padding: 3px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/5058682316/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4090/5058682316_86e3e3a6af.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px;" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/5058682316/">"Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been." Mark Twain</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/abbylanes/">Abby Lanes</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">If you're from an area where seasons are distinct and easily recognizable, visiting Southern California will make you feel as if you're not having seasonal changes at all. But if you look closely, you can find it.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Location: Terrenea Resort - L.A.'s Oceanfront Resort</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.terranea.com/">http://www.terranea.com/</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/5141445672/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Fall in California by Abby Lanes, on Flickr"><img alt="Fall in California" height="500" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4084/5141445672_fe577f8da7.jpg" width="332" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you visit Terrenea Resort, they grant oceanfront access to all California residents, as well as, a professional Falconer who meets up with his magnificient birds of prey daily. I met this lovely Eurasian Eagle Owl there, on Halloween morning. This to me was certainly a sign of the season, as well as a fortunate event. The falconer keeps them there to detract pigeons and rats from moving into the resort.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/5135692067/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;" title="Eurasian Eagle Owl --- (thank goodness I had my camera, and it was set to RAW!) by Abby Lanes, on Flickr"><img alt="Eurasian Eagle Owl --- (thank goodness I had my camera, and it was set to RAW!)" height="500" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1048/5135692067_3d38946632.jpg" width="332" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/5135692067/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Eurasian Eagle Owl --- (thank goodness I had my camera, and it was set to RAW!) by Abby Lanes, on Flickr"><br />
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My gardening mentor, Florence Sullivan, told me she was convinced that even the plants are slightly confused and bloom when they shouldn't. In any case, if you're used to extreme weather changes, and predictable patterns in nature, Southern California Fall will certainly make you realize you have to open your mind and awareness, and look for the changes.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/5215530540/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all." - Stanley Horowitz by Abby Lanes, on Flickr"><img alt=""Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all." - Stanley Horowitz" height="333" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4089/5215530540_3638b8d68e.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I suggest you carry your camera, and keep your eyes open. Opportunities to spot fall in Southern California are everywhere. One of my favorite places to visit, is Descanso Gardens, in La Canada Flintridge, CA. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.descansogardens.org/">http://www.descansogardens.org/</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/2631739391/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Falling Leaves by Abby Lanes, on Flickr"><img alt="Falling Leaves" height="500" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2247/2631739391_3556a766da.jpg" width="374" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/2631739391/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Falling Leaves by Abby Lanes, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">And although every leaf won't be falling or changing color, even the green leaves give hints of Fall.</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/4102296700/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="“Soup of the evening, beautiful Soup!” ~ Lewis Carroll by Abby Lanes, on Flickr"><img alt="“Soup of the evening, beautiful Soup!” ~ Lewis Carroll" height="500" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2689/4102296700_44ba7d4fc0.jpg" width="333" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/4102296700/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="“Soup of the evening, beautiful Soup!” ~ Lewis Carroll by Abby Lanes, on Flickr"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;">It is a wonderful time of year here, so do come for a visit, and enjoy the subtle changes.</span></a></div>Abby Laneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512511789432688261noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535649881694534845.post-65764290038765566352010-06-14T10:22:00.001-07:002010-06-14T10:31:46.155-07:00Balboa Island, California (Beach Cottage Gardening)<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/4602101872/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3363/4602101872_99d69aa123.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/4602101872/">Hee that is in a towne in May loseth his spring. ~George Herbert</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/abbylanes/">Abby Lanes</a>.</span></div><p>My sister-in-law came for a visit and I suggested we take a quick day trip to Balboa Island, located in Newport Beach, CA.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/4619178908/" title="Home by Abby Lanes, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4071/4619178908_0e2dc7d37f.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Home" /></a><br />
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This adorable cottage town has fun activities for families and children, including a ferry ride, a carousel, and an arcade.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/4372587131/" title="No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle. ~Winston Churchill by Abby Lanes, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4042/4372587131_aebfc86d51.jpg" width="500" height="403" alt="No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle. ~Winston Churchill" /></a><br />
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And the endless rows of cottage houses, with the accompanying cottage gardens are stunning.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/3568738641/" title="White Picket Fence ~ Balboa Island by Abby Lanes, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2451/3568738641_01276a6548.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="White Picket Fence ~ Balboa Island" /></a><br />
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To add to the charm, the restaurants are casual and inviting.</p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/3572570626/" title=""When you look at a cupcake, you've got to smile." ~ Anne Byrn by Abby Lanes, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3307/3572570626_23002d6b2c.jpg" width="500" height="368" alt=""When you look at a cupcake, you've got to smile." ~ Anne Byrn" /></a><br />
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It's the perfect place for a day trip and if you do go, let me know if you enjoyed yourself. We certainly had fun!<br />
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LINK<br />
http://www.balboa-island.net/Abby Laneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512511789432688261noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535649881694534845.post-14316787391751721112010-05-14T10:14:00.000-07:002010-06-14T10:18:02.681-07:00“A beautiful thing is never perfect.” ~ Proverb<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/4595454887/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3186/4595454887_999b024120.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/4595454887/">“A beautiful thing is never perfect.” ~ Proverb</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/abbylanes/">Abby Lanes</a>.</span></div><p>I went to the flower fields in Carlsbad , CA with another photographer. <br />
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If you're visiting Southern California in April or May, this is a wonderful place to explore. They plant the fields in rainbow rows of ranunculus. <br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/3423619477/" title="Flower Fields - Carlsbad, CA by Abby Lanes, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3345/3423619477_8d25a6aba9.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Flower Fields - Carlsbad, CA" /></a><br />
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The last section, nearest the entrance blooms last, just in time for Mother's Day.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/4573837646/" title="Happy Mother's Day! by Abby Lanes, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4008/4573837646_1bb7f9ee1d.jpg" width="430" height="500" alt="Happy Mother's Day!" /></a><br />
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They are located directly behind the Carlsbad Outlet mall, and adds another fun dimension to your trip there if you want to stay more than one day.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/3411220404/" title="The Flower Fields ~ Carlsbad, CA by Abby Lanes, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3587/3411220404_b006c25cf9.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="The Flower Fields ~ Carlsbad, CA " /></a><br />
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This is their website for more information including their address and phone number.<br />
http://www.theflowerfields.com/</p>Abby Laneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512511789432688261noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535649881694534845.post-51022879449933307012010-04-22T13:11:00.001-07:002010-04-22T13:11:18.291-07:00Bright colours or dark ones, sparkling clarity or misty atmosphere,
landscape, still life, portrait - I haven't met a subject, style or
mood yet that can't be portrayed beautifully in pastel. (Dave Beckett)<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/4456938995/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4025/4456938995_fc643a75f3.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/4456938995/">Bright colours or dark ones, sparkling clarity or misty atmosphere, landscape, still life, portrait - I haven't met a subject, style or mood yet that can't be portrayed beautifully in pastel. (Dave Beckett)</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/abbylanes/">Abby Lanes</a>.</span></div><p>Flowers are blooming everywhere in Southern, California. All of this rain from El Nino has certainly brought forth gorgeous blooms.</p>Abby Laneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512511789432688261noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535649881694534845.post-53952537280976675382010-02-01T20:52:00.000-08:002010-02-05T21:05:24.079-08:00Signs of Spring in Southern CaliforniaA day before the Groundhog tells the world about the coming of Spring, February first in Southern California shows blossoms everywhere.<br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/4322521629/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2691/4322521629_fc7d826a75.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/4322521629/">Happy Girl</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/abbylanes/">Abby Lanes</a>.</span></div><br /><br />It appears that our recent El Nino storms nourished the flowers and helped the insect population.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/4327199254/" title="We hope that, when the insects take over the world, they will remember with gratitude how we took them along on all our picnics. ~Bill Vaughan by Abby Lanes, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4066/4327199254_cd08753c45.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="We hope that, when the insects take over the world, they will remember with gratitude how we took them along on all our picnics. ~Bill Vaughan" /></a><br /><br />This flowering tree was filled with blooms, and quite a swarm of happy bees, which are not picture here. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/4324153626/" title="Spring Blooms by Abby Lanes, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/4324153626_bc89e7b473.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Spring Blooms" /></a><br /><br />There will be more Southern California floral photos here. This tree was spectacular, and covered in pink blossoms. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/4322638677/" title=""Oh it's a magical thing, when the sun is shining down on me. And this is such a beautiful place, don't wanna miss a minute of today, it's so magical" ~ Martina McBride by Abby Lanes, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2732/4322638677_31fd9227eb.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt=""Oh it's a magical thing, when the sun is shining down on me. And this is such a beautiful place, don't wanna miss a minute of today, it's so magical" ~ Martina McBride" /></a><br /><br />Enjoy an early taste of Spring fever if you live in Southern California. I think were in for a showy floral season with the help of all of this rain. <br /><br />GARDENING TIP: Now is a good time to use the weed and feed sold at your local nursery. It'll boost your grass and fight back the weeds and crab grass that could take hold if you don't catch it now.Abby Laneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512511789432688261noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535649881694534845.post-602029615412626712009-11-11T11:09:00.001-08:002009-11-11T11:12:30.913-08:00life in la la land<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/4095430221/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2651/4095430221_11cea069a7.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/4095430221/">life in la la land</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/abbylanes/">Abby - going camera shopping today!!!</a>.</span></div><p>There are many ways to enhance a garden. Adding a picket fence is certainly one way to go. Earlier this year, I found ready assembled sections of picket fences at Lowes. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/4093880895/" title="White Picket Fence by Abby - going camera shopping today!!!, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2755/4093880895_8df1673c77.jpg" width="500" height="380" alt="White Picket Fence" /></a><br />With the help of a good carpernter, and and a few buckets of white paint, my front yard was transformed into a cozy cottage garden. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/4092821897/" title="'Just living is not enough,' said the butterfly. 'One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.' ~ Hans Christian Andersen by Abby - going camera shopping today!!!, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2432/4092821897_42fca05775.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="'Just living is not enough,' said the butterfly. 'One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.' ~ Hans Christian Andersen" /></a><br />Welcome to my little slice of paradise.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/4082540658/" title="“One may live without bread, not without roses” ~ Jean Ricepin by Abby - going camera shopping today!!!, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3072/4082540658_43e93b5359.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="“One may live without bread, not without roses” ~ Jean Ricepin" /></a></p>Abby Laneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512511789432688261noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535649881694534845.post-65725033021378121082009-06-18T22:07:00.001-07:002009-06-18T22:11:25.262-07:00My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~H. Fred Ale<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/3638130812/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3385/3638130812_5c9d0c1b0c.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/3638130812/">“They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world: someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for.” ~ Tom Boddett</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/abbylanes/">Abby Lanes</a>.</span></div><p>Meet some of my latest rose blooms. After adding a picket fence to my front yard, it was quickly followed with the addition of some pretty pink roses. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/3639869993/" title="My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~H. Fred Ale by Abby Lanes, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3610/3639869993_ae25c460dc.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~H. Fred Ale" /></a><br /><br />I'll share photos with the fence soon too.</p>Abby Laneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512511789432688261noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535649881694534845.post-1578948285992174522009-05-22T20:35:00.001-07:002009-05-22T21:16:52.300-07:00“The heart has reasons that reason does not understand.” ~ Jacques Benigne BossuelHappy Pink Saturday! <br />Thank you Beverly at "How Sweet the Sound" for hosting.<br /><br />Welcome to my flower blog. This week I'm taking you on a garden tour. First stop; my rose garden! The more I garden, the more I realize roses are my favorite flowers. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/3552153797/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2289/3552153797_117180bb60.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/3552153797/">“The heart has reasons that reason does not understand.” ~ Jacques Benigne Bossuel</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/abbylanes/">Abby Lanes</a>.</span><p>Earlier this year, I added new bareroot roses, and this is the first "pink" bloom on the new bushes. <br /><br />Next stop... the area women's club hosts a yearly garden tour... and this home had a beautiful waterlily coy pond that ran right underneath the driveway.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/3537421353/" title="Waterlillies by Abby Lanes, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3612/3537421353_4bcb74ed85.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Waterlillies" /></a><br /><br />The tour had five gardens, and the perfect mix of garden styles for the tour. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/3537453150/" title="Scenes from a garden tour by Abby Lanes, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2274/3537453150_0d348a3bec.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Scenes from a garden tour" /></a><br /><br />The cottage garden had this mullein verbascum album. It was quite frankly, the first time I had ever seen this flower. Thank you to my gardening friend Kate for the flower id. If you get a chance, visit her blog, it's packed full of gardening knowledge and beautiful flowers. http://www.katesmudges.com/ <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/3537477572/" title="Purple Vintage Mod by Abby Lanes, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3545/3537477572_8801e63923.jpg" width="416" height="500" alt="Purple Vintage Mod" /></a><br /><br />Finally, the last stop on our garden tour today, was taken at the flower fields in Carlsbad. There were so many ranunculas there, to focus on one seemed odd, but I thought it was fitting for our tour. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/3517789090/" title="“I want my children to have all the things I couldn't afford. Then I want to move in with them.” ~ Phyllis Diller by Abby Lanes, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3645/3517789090_a04a6c590b.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="“I want my children to have all the things I couldn't afford. Then I want to move in with them.” ~ Phyllis Diller" /></a><br /><br />I hope you enjoyed your pink garden tour. Stop back soon, and you'll get the rest of the garden tour, and I'll surprise you with giant honeysuckles climbing the walls of a Spanish Villa. Until then, have a lovely Memorial Day weekend.Abby Laneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512511789432688261noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535649881694534845.post-32580492289231951292009-05-08T11:23:00.001-07:002009-06-01T09:06:00.079-07:00Cottage Garden Curb Appeal<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/3498883365/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3652/3498883365_4ee46676d4.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/3498883365/">"Cats never strike a pose that isn't photogenic." ~ Lilian Jackson Braun</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/abbylanes/">Abby Lanes</a>.</span></div><p>Nothing is more relaxing to me than walking my dog through my neighborhood, and studying my neighbors "cottage gardens." <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/2714618887/" title="A White Picket Fence by Abby Lanes, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3164/2714618887_b730cd1d46.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="A White Picket Fence" /></a><br /><br />My home is a small 1950's ranch house, and as my rose and front yard wildflower garden grows and flourishes, it finally occured to me that I want a picket fence, and a coastal cottage curb appeal. Luckily, my neighborhood is filled with this cottage gardening style.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/2658127948/" title="Beach Cottage (Gray) by Abby Lanes, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3262/2658127948_b844e5fc01.jpg" width="332" height="500" alt="Beach Cottage (Gray)" /></a><br /><br />As my ideas for the the landscape design become solidified, I'll post before, during and after photos of my garden updates. I'm currently studying fencing, arches, and cottage garden accessories.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/2632512274/" title="Descanso Gardens by Abby Lanes, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3064/2632512274_832ef8aeb1.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="Descanso Gardens" /></a><br /><br />Meanwhile, enjoy the stroll through my neighborhood! <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/2635141281/" title="Spring Flowers by Abby Lanes, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3020/2635141281_60bc50ba28.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="Spring Flowers" /></a></p>Abby Laneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512511789432688261noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2535649881694534845.post-31252913396987211482009-05-05T11:07:00.001-07:002009-05-05T11:07:40.387-07:00Wildflower Garden Experiment Update<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/3505165850/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3136/3505165850_7ce9540c5d.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/3505165850/">all i need is a moment</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/abbylanes/">Abby Lanes (has Spring Fever)</a>.</span></div><p>My wildflowers are in full bloom. This is a macro photo of one of the pretty blooms. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbylanes/3282854588/" title="Picnik collage by Abby Lanes (has Spring Fever), on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3571/3282854588_5de80ca943.jpg" width="377" height="500" alt="Picnik collage" /></a><br />This is the box of seed, and the flower's baby photos. :-) The box was $6 and yielded an entire wildfower bed beside my driveway, and around my rose garden.</p>Abby Laneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512511789432688261noreply@blogger.com5